Ronaldo shines for Madrid after positive comments from Mourinho
Published:Cristiano Ronaldo repaid the faith showed in him by manager Jose Mourinho by scoring twice as Real Madrid displayed some attacking bite for the first time this season to demolish Deportivo.
Mourinho has focused on making Madrid more sound defensively since taking over at the start of the campaign, which resulted in just one goal being conceded in their opening five La Liga games.
Another goal was let in against Deportivo, but this proved immaterial as Real took their chances for virtually the first time this season as they ran away to a 6-1 triumph.
Mourinho remains sure that it could take as long as a year before his new construction of Madrid is complete, but insists that Ronaldo is one of a few indispensables in the team.
He said: “There are players who are untouchable. Cristiano is untouchable because he works as hard as anyone. In this time when we are trying to construct a team, there are fundamental principles, and he represents them all.
“The first is greed, the second and the third solidarity and discipline. Cristiano has all of these attributes.”
Ronaldo had been employed in attack alongside Gonzalo Higuain in his debut season, but has been attacking from the right side under Mourinho, who has opted to stick with the 451 formation that has served him well at other clubs in the past.
Madrid’s win leaves them third in the league standings and they are now 11/10 to win La Liga this season.
However, a clearer indication of their title credentials lies in wait in November where they face a trip to main rivals Barcelona, alongside a Madrid derby at home to Atletico.
Barcelona are the 8/11 favourites to win La Liga. See the full La Liga betting odds market.
